2011 Honda Element EX, an Autoweek Drivers Log Car Review - AutoWeek
DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: One night behind the wheel of our brave little toaster was enough to convince me that the 2011 Honda Element EX remains a great concept desperately seeking a modern platform. The Element is also much larger inside than one might suspect. The rear-hinged suicide doors provide lots of access, while stadium rear seats help keep claustrophobia at bay. I can personally attest that neither the Jeep Grand Cherokee nor Honda's own Odyssey have been able to achieve this seemingly simple feat. The windshield is huge, but the driver sits back far enough that the pseudo-B-pillar splitting the suicide doors is right in the driver's peripheral vision. Similarly, the kids were chagrined that they sat right at the C-pillar point with no way to open the fixed-glass windows. Where the Element really falls short is the driving experience. The powertrain feels old and not really up to the task of hauling nearly two tons of bread van down the highway. The slightest throttle input provokes a downshift, which is good for responsiveness but also partly responsible for the Element's pathetic fuel economy. Source: autoweek.com
